Israeli air strike hits West Bank on third day of raid
Published: 08:08 PM,Aug 30,2024 | EDITED : 12:08 AM,Aug 31,2024
People check a burnt car in the small town of Zababdeh, southeast of Jenin in the occupied West Bank
JENIN: Israel carried out an air strike in the occupied West Bank on Friday as its large-scale military operation entered a third day, with both sides reporting at least 19 Palestinians killed.
A top UN aid official meanwhile questioned 'what has become of our basic humanity', as the war raged on in Gaza and humanitarian operations struggle to respond.
The United Nations has warned the military operation which Israel launched in the West Bank early on Wednesday is 'fuelling an already explosive situation' in the territory and has pressed Israel to end it.
In the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris pledged she will not change Washington's policy of supplying weapons to Israel if elected to the top job in November. But she stressed it was time to 'end this war'.
Israeli forces have killed at least 16 Palestinians in the raids since Wednesday, a toll confirmed by the Palestinian health ministry. A journalist reported loud explosions from the city's refugee camp and thick plumes of smoke rising from the area. Israeli troops pulled back from other West Bank towns late Thursday but fighting raged on around Jenin, long a hub of militant activity.
The UK on Friday said it was 'deeply' concerned by the Israeli military's ongoing operation in the occupied West Bank, urging it to 'exercise restraint' and adhere to international law.
'We recognise Israel's need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure,' a spokesperson for the UK foreign ministry said.
The statement called on Israeli authorities to 'exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions'.
'The UK strongly condemns settler violence and inciteful remarks such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben Gvir, which threaten the status-quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem,' the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile in Gaza, Israeli artillery pounded western areas of Gaza City early Friday while a medical source at the southern Nasser Hospital said an Israeli strike killed three people near the southern city of Khan Yunis.
Violence has surged in the West Bank since Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel triggered war in Gaza.
The United Nations said that at least 637 Palestinians had been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since the Gaza war began.
A top UN aid official meanwhile questioned 'what has become of our basic humanity', as the war raged on in Gaza and humanitarian operations struggle to respond.
The United Nations has warned the military operation which Israel launched in the West Bank early on Wednesday is 'fuelling an already explosive situation' in the territory and has pressed Israel to end it.
In the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris pledged she will not change Washington's policy of supplying weapons to Israel if elected to the top job in November. But she stressed it was time to 'end this war'.
Israeli forces have killed at least 16 Palestinians in the raids since Wednesday, a toll confirmed by the Palestinian health ministry. A journalist reported loud explosions from the city's refugee camp and thick plumes of smoke rising from the area. Israeli troops pulled back from other West Bank towns late Thursday but fighting raged on around Jenin, long a hub of militant activity.
The UK on Friday said it was 'deeply' concerned by the Israeli military's ongoing operation in the occupied West Bank, urging it to 'exercise restraint' and adhere to international law.
'We recognise Israel's need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure,' a spokesperson for the UK foreign ministry said.
The statement called on Israeli authorities to 'exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions'.
'The UK strongly condemns settler violence and inciteful remarks such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben Gvir, which threaten the status-quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem,' the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile in Gaza, Israeli artillery pounded western areas of Gaza City early Friday while a medical source at the southern Nasser Hospital said an Israeli strike killed three people near the southern city of Khan Yunis.
Violence has surged in the West Bank since Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel triggered war in Gaza.
The United Nations said that at least 637 Palestinians had been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since the Gaza war began.